Multilayer tubular structure having better resistance to extraction in biofuel and use thereof

ABSTRACT

A multilayer tubular structure MLT intended for the transport of petrol. The MLT has at least one inner barrier layer and at least one outer layer located above the barrier layer. All the layers located above the barrier layer contain from 0 to 5% of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of the layer. The outer layer is predominantly at least one aliphatic polyamide. The polyamide(s) has a number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom selected from the following:
         A, from 4 to 8.5;   B, from 7 to 10;   C, from 9 to 18;
 
with the proviso that when the outer layer comprises at least three polyamides, at least one of the polyamides A, B and C is excluded.

The invention relates to a multilayer structure, in particular in the form of a tube, and the use thereof for transporting fluids, in particular fuel of petrol type, especially alcohol-containing petrol, in particular for motor vehicles.

The invention more particularly relates to the tubes present within an engine. These tubes may for example be intended for the transport of fuels, especially between the tank and the engine, for the cooling circuit, for the hydraulics system, or else intended for the air conditioning circuit or the transport of urea/water mixture.

For the transport of petrol, and in particular of bio-petrol, numerous criteria must be met, in particular good barrier properties (for environmental protection reasons), cold impact, pressure resistance, etc.

For reasons of safety and environmental conservation, especially with the advent of new biofuels, car manufacturers are demanding particular mechanical characteristics for the abovementioned tubes, and also characteristics of very low permeability and good resistance to the different constituents of the fuels, the latter varying depending on the country (hydrocarbons, additives, alcohols such as methanol and ethanol, alcohols possibly being predominant components in some cases), to engine lubrication oils, and to other chemical products liable to be encountered in this environment (battery acids, brake fluids, coolant liquids, metal salts such as zinc or calcium chloride).

The characteristics of the specifications commonly required by car manufacturers for a tube to be deemed satisfactory are, cumulatively, the following:

-   -   good, lasting adhesion between the layers, if the tube is a         multilayer tube, most particularly after having been exposed to         the fuel;     -   good integrity of the connections (tubes with connectors) after         circulation of the fuel, that, is to say not leading to any         leakage;     -   good dimensional stability of the tube when it is used with         petrol;     -   good impact resistance under cold conditions (from −30° C. to         −40° C. approximately), such that the tube does not shatter;     -   good heat resistance (approximately 150° C.), such that the tube         does not deform;     -   good resistance to ageing in a hot oxidative medium (for         example: hot air from the engine compartment, from 100 to         150° C. approximately);     -   good resistance to fuels and to their degradation products, and         especially with high peroxide contents;     -   very low permeability to fuels, and more particularly good         barrier properties to biofuels, both for the polar components         thereof (such as ethanol) and for the apolar components thereof         (hydrocarbons);     -   good flexibility of the tube to facilitate assembly, especially         of the fuel supply pipe;     -   good resistance to ZnCl₂ (for example in winter when the roads         have been gritted, the outside of the tube being exposed to this         environment).

Moreover, the desired tubes must avoid the following drawbacks:

-   -   if the tube is a multilayer tube, the delamination of the         layers, especially the inner layers, especially during connector         insertion (which may lead to leakages);     -   excessive swelling of the tube after ageing in petrol/diesel         systems (including for biodiesels or bio-petrols), which may         lead to leakages or problems of positioning under the vehicle.

Recently, a new problem has appeared, namely the excess of extractable matter from the multilayer tube following prolonged contact with the alcohol-containing petrol. This extractable matter is liable to block or clog the injectors of the vehicle engines. Car manufacturers, in particular Volkswagen, have therefore established new criteria for selecting tubes able to transport petrol, especially alcohol-containing petrol, in motor vehicles, which are stricter than they used to be. Thus, the new test developed by different manufacturers, especially Volkswagen, consists in determining the proportion of extractables of a petrol transport tube after bringing the inside thereof into contact with hot alcohol-containing petrol for several hours and weighing the evaporation residue of the petrol contained within the tube, corresponding to the extractables. The tube tested may thus only be used for transporting petrol if the proportion of extractables is as low as possible, in particular less than or equal to 6 g/m² (of tube inner surface area).

Currently, there are two types of tubes: single-layer and multilayer tubes, that is to say consisting of one or more layers of polymer. For the transport of petrol, in particular, the use of a multilayer tube comprising a barrier layer is tending to become widespread for ecological reasons.

Conventionally, the tubes used are produced by mono-extrusion, if it is a single-layer tube, or by coextrusion of the different layers, if it is a multilayer tube, according to customary techniques for transforming thermoplastics.

The structures (MLT) for transporting petrol typically consist of a barrier layer such as PPA, surmounted by a PA layer (at least one layer) and optionally comprising layers of binders in the event that the adhesion between the other layers proves insufficient.

Thus, patent EP 2098580 especially describes tubes having a PPA barrier and at least one layer of polyamide, plasticized or unplasticized, located above the barrier layer.

Nonetheless, this type of structure, and also other MLTs known to those skilled in the art, are no longer suited to the abovementioned new test for extractables.

The present invention aims to solve this new problem by a specific arrangement and composition of the layers of the multilayer structure.

The present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure MLT intended for the transport of fluids, in particular of petrol, comprising, from the inside outwards, at least one inner barrier layer (1) and at least one outer layer (2) located above the barrier layer,

-   -   said outer layer (2), or all the layers (2) and the other         optional layers located above the barrier layer, containing on         average from 0 to 5% of plasticizer relative to the total weight         of the composition of the layer (2), or in which all the outer         layers, located above the barrier layer, comprise on average         from 0 to 5% of plasticizer, said outer layer (2) predominantly         comprising at least one polyamide of aliphatic type or         consisting of more than 75% of aliphatic units, said aliphatic         polyamide being chosen from:     -   a polyamide denoted A, having a mean number of carbon atoms per         nitrogen atom, denoted C_(A), of between 4 and 8.5,         advantageously between 4 and 7;     -   a polyamide denoted B, having a mean number of carbon atoms per         nitrogen atom, denoted C_(B), of between 7 and 10,         advantageously between 7.5 and 9.5;     -   a polyamide denoted C, having a mean number of carbon atoms per         nitrogen atom, denoted C_(C), of between 9 and 18,         advantageously between 10 and 18;     -   with the proviso that when said outer layer (2) comprises at         least three polyamides, at least one of said polyamides A, B and         C is excluded.

It would not be a departure from the context of the invention if the subject, intended for transporting fluid, also served for storing fluids.

The term “fluid” denotes a gas used in a motor vehicle, or a liquid, in particular a liquid, and especially an oil, a brake fluid, a urea solution, a glycol-based coolant liquid, fuels, especially light fuels liable to pollute, advantageously fuels other than diesel, especially petrol or LPG, in particular petrol and more particularly alcohol-containing petrol.

Advantageously, said fluid denotes fuels, in particular petrol and more particularly alcohol-containing petrol.

Air, nitrogen and oxygen are excluded from the definition of said gas.

The term “petrol” denotes a mixture of hydrocarbons originating from the distillation of petroleum, to which may be added additives or alcohols such as methanol or ethanol, alcohols possibly being predominant components in some cases.

The expression “alcohol-containing petrol” denotes a petrol to which methanol or ethanol have been added. It also denotes an E95 type petrol, which does not contain any petroleum distillation products.

The expression “barrier layer” denotes a layer having characteristics of low permeability and of good resistance to the various constituents of the fluids, especially the fuels, that is to say that the barrier layer slows the passage of the fluid, especially of the fuel, both in terms of the polar components thereof (such as ethanol) and the apolar components thereof (hydrocarbons) into the other layers of the structure or even to the outside of the structure. The barrier layer is therefore a layer which first and foremost makes it possible not to lose too much petrol into the atmosphere by diffusion, thereby making it possible to avoid atmospheric pollution.

The measurements of permeability to petrols are determined at 60° C. according to a gravimetric method with CE10: isooctane/toluene/ethanol=45/45/10 vol %.

The instantaneous permeability is zero during the induction period, then it gradually increases up to an equilibrium value which corresponds to the permeability value under continuous operating conditions. This value, obtained under continuous operating conditions, is considered to be the permeability of the material.

These barrier materials may be polyphthalamides and/or functionalized fluoro materials such as the functionalized copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), the functionalized copolymer of ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene (EFEP), a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(alkylvinyl ether)-chlorotrifluoroethylene (CPT). If these polymers are not functionalized, then it is possible to add an intermediate layer of binder to ensure good adhesion within the MLT structure.

Among PPAs, coPA6 Ts, PA9T and copolymers thereof, PA10T and copolymers thereof, MXD6s and copolymers thereof are particularly beneficial.

The expression “said outer layer (2) predominantly comprising at least one polyamide of aliphatic type” means that said polyamide of aliphatic type is present in a proportion of more than 50% by weight in the layer (2). The polyamide of aliphatic type is linear and is not of cycloaliphatic type.

Advantageously, said predominant polyamide of aliphatic type of the layer(s) (2) also predominantly comprises aliphatic units, namely more than 50% of aliphatic units.

Advantageously, said predominant polyamide of aliphatic type of the layer(s) (2) consists of more than 75% of aliphatic units; preferably said predominant polyamide of aliphatic type of the layer(s) (2) is totally aliphatic.

The inventors have thus found that the absence of, or at least a small proportion of, plasticizer in the outer layer(s), that is to say the layer(s) located above the barrier layer, made it possible to greatly reduce the proportion of extractables as determined by a test as defined above, and in particular by a test which consists in filling a tubular structure with alcohol-containing petrol of FAM B type and in heating everything at 60° C. for 96 hours, then in emptying it by filtering it into a beaker, then in leaving the filtrate of the beaker to evaporate at room temperature, to finally weigh this residue, the proportion of which must be less than or equal to approximately 6 g/m2 of tube inner surface area.

The alcohol-containing petrol FAM B is described in standards DIN 51604-1: 1982, DIN 51604-2: 1984 and DIN 51604-3: 1984.

Briefly, the alcohol-containing petrol FAM A is firstly prepared with a mixture of 50% of toluene, 30% of isooctane, 15% of diisobutylene and 5% of ethanol then FAM B is prepared by mixing 84.5% of FAM A with 15% of methanol and 0.5% of water.

FAM B consists in total of 42.3% of toluene, 25.4% of isooctane, 12.7% of diisobutylene, 4.2% of ethanol, 15% of methanol and 0.5% of water.

According to the present application, the term “polyamide”, also denoted “PA”, covers:

-   -   homopolymers,     -   copolymers, or copolyamides, based on various amide units, such         as, for example, copolyamide 6/12 with amide units derived from         lactam 6 and lactam 12,     -   alloys of polyamides, as long as the polyamide is the         predominant constituent.

There is also a category of copolyamides in the broad sense, which, while not preferred, form part of the context of the invention. These are copolyamides comprising not only amide units (which will be predominant, hence the fact that they are to be considered as copolyamides in the broad sense), but also units which are not amide in nature, for example ether units. The most well known examples are PEBAs or polyether-block-amides, and the copolyamide-ester-ether, copolyamide-ether and copolyamide-ester variants thereof. Among these, mention will be made of PEBA-12, in which the polyamide units are the same as those of PA12, and PEBA-6.12, in which the polyamide units are the same as those of PA6.12.

Homopolyamides, copolyamides and alloys are also distinguished from one another by their number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, with the knowledge that there are as many nitrogen atoms as amide groups (—CO—NH—).

A polyamide with a high carbon content is a polyamide with a high content of carbon atoms (C) relative to the nitrogen atom (N). These are polyamides with approximately at least 9 carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, such as, for example, polyamide-9, polyamide-12, polyamide-11, polyamide-10.10 (PA10.10), copolyamide 12/10. T, copolyamide 11/10.T, polyamide-12.T, and polyamide-6.12 (PA6.12). T represents terephthalic acid.

The nomenclature used to define polyamides is described in the standard ISO 1874-1:1992 “Plastics—Polyamide (PA) molding and extrusion materials—Part 1: Designation”, especially on page 3 (tables 1 and 2), and is well known to those skilled in the art.

A polyamide with a low carbon content is a polyamide with a low content of carbon atoms (C) relative to the nitrogen atom (N). These are polyamides with approximately less than 9 carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, such as, for example, polyamide-6, polyamide-6.6, polyamide-4.6, copolyamide-6.T/6.6, copolyamide 6.1/6.6, copolyamide 6.T/6.I/6.6, and polyamide 9.T. I represents isophthalic diacid.

In the case of a homopolyamide of PA-X.Y type, with X denoting a unit obtained from a diamine and Y denoting a unit obtained from a diacid, the number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom is the mean of the numbers of carbon atoms present in the unit derived from the diamine X and in the unit derived from the diacid Y. Thus, PA6.12 is a PA with 9 carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, in other words a C9 PA. PA6.13 is C9.5.

In the case of the copolyamides, the number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom is calculated according to the same principle. The calculation is made on a molar pro rata basis of the various amide units. In the case of a copolyamide having units not of amide type, the calculation is only made on the amide unit portion. Thus, for example, for PEBA-12, which is a block copolymer of 12 amide units and of ether units, the mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom will be 12, as for PA12; for PEBA-6.12, it will be 9, as for PA6.12.

Thus, polyamides with a high carbon content such as the polyamide PA12 or 11, adhere with difficulty to a (co)PAXT with a low carbon content such as coPA6T, to a polyamide with a low carbon content such as the polyamide PA6, or else to an alloy of polyamide PA6 and polyolefin (such as, for example, an Orgalloy® sold by Arkema).

Nonetheless, it is observed that the currently proposed tube structures are unsatisfactory for a use intended for biofuels, since the demands of the car manufacturers' specifications, recalled above, cannot all be simultaneously met.

Biofuels are not solely derived from petroleum but comprise a proportion of polar products such as alcohols of plant origin, such as ethanol or methanol, of at least 3%. This content may be as high as 85% or even 95%.

In addition, the circulation temperature of the fuel tends to rise, due to the new engines (more confined, operating at a higher temperature).

Advantageously, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which said outer layer (2) comprises from 0 to 1.5% of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of the layer (2).

In the event that several layers (2) are present, it is possible that one of the outer layers has a greater proportion of plasticizer, such as 15% by weight, but in this case the proportion of plasticizer is compensated by the thickness of the layer which is then much thinner, such that the mean value of plasticizer present in all the outer layers does not exceed 5%. The proportion of plasticizer in this layer may then be up to 15%, but its thickness does not exceed 20% of the total thickness of the tube; preferably, it does not exceed 200 μm.

Advantageously, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) comprising a layer (2) as defined above, in which at least one second outer layer (2′) located above the barrier layer is present, and is preferably located above the layer (2), said layer (2′) being plasticized, said plasticizer being in particular present in a proportion from 1.5% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition of said layer, the thickness of said layer (2′) preferably represents up to 20% of the total thickness of the tubular structure, in particular up to 200 μm.

The layer (2′), just like the layer (2), predominantly comprises a polyamide of aliphatic type, that is to say that said polyamide of aliphatic type is present in a proportion of more than 50% by weight in the layer (2′). The polyamide of aliphatic type is linear and is not of cycloaliphatic type.

Advantageously, said predominant polyamide of aliphatic type of the layer(s) (2′) also predominantly comprises aliphatic units, namely more than 50% of aliphatic units.

Advantageously, said predominant polyamide of aliphatic type of the layer(s) (2′) consists of more than 75% of aliphatic units; preferably said predominant polyamide of aliphatic type of the layer(s) (2′) is totally aliphatic.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT), in which the layer(s) (2) comprise(s) up to 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of said layer or of all the compositions of the layers (2).

Advantageously, the multilayer tubular structure (MLT) comprises a single layer (2) and does not contain plasticizer.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT), in which the plasticizer content of all the layers located above the barrier layer is at most 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the compositions of all the layers located above the barrier layer.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT), in which the layer (2′) is the outermost layer and the only layer which is plasticized, the layer(s) (2) not containing plasticizer.

The proportion of plasticizer may represent up to 15% by weight of the total weight of the composition of the layer (2′). The greater the proportion of plasticizer, the thinner the layer (2′) will be, with a thickness of said layer (2′) which preferably represents up to 20% of the total thickness of the tubular structure, in particular up to 200 μm.

Advantageously, the multilayer tubular structure (MLT) consists of three layers, from the outside inwards, (2′)//(2)//(1), the layer (2′) being the only plasticized layer, in proportions as defined above, the layer (2) containing no plasticizer.

A multilayer tubular structure (MLT) consisting of three layers, from the outside inwards, (2′)//(2)//(1), has the advantage of having an elongation at break, at t=0 when the structure is very dry and with a very low degree of humidity of between 0 and 30% relative humidity, which is very good, and especially better than a structure in which the layers (2′) and (2) do not contain plasticizer.

Advantageously, in the latter embodiment, the layer (2′) is the outermost layer and the polyamide of the latter is a long-chain polyamide, i.e. a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted Cc, of from 9.5 to 18, the layer (2) is located between the barrier layer and the layer (2′) and the polyamide of this layer (2) is a short-chain polyamide, i.e. a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted Ca, of from 4 to 9.

Advantageously, in the latter embodiment, with the layer (2′) at a thickness of from 100 to 200 μm, the layer (2) has a thickness of at least 200 μm and the layer (1) has a thickness of from 100 to 300 μm.

Advantageously, in the latter embodiment, the layer (2′) is the outermost layer and the polyamide of the latter is a long-chain polyamide, i.e. a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted Cc, of from 9.5 to 18, the layer (2) is located between the barrier layer and the layer (2′) and the polyamide of this layer (2) is a short-chain polyamide, i.e. a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted Ca, of from 4 to 9, with the layer (2′) at a thickness of from 100 to 200 μm, the layer (2) has a thickness of at least 200 to 400 μm and the layer (1) has a thickness of from 100 to 300 μm.

Regardless of the number of layers, the preferred tubular structures are those containing as little plasticizer as possible in the outer layers, that is to say the layers furthest from the fluid. These structures may be the following:

-   -   Multilayer tubular structure (MLT) containing no more than 1.5%         of plasticizer in the first 50% of the thickness thereof,         starting from the barrier layer in contact with the fluid.     -   Multilayer tubular structure (MLT) containing no more than 1.5%         of plasticizer in the first 75% of the thickness thereof,         starting from the barrier layer in contact with the fluid.     -   Multilayer tubular structure (MLT) containing no more than 1.5%         of plasticizer in the first 85% of the thickness thereof,         starting from the barrier layer in contact with the fluid.     -   Multilayer tubular structure (MLT) containing no plasticizer in         the first 50% of the thickness thereof, starting from the         barrier layer in contact with the fluid.     -   Multilayer tubular structure (MLT) containing no plasticizer in         the first 75% of the thickness thereof, starting from the         barrier layer in contact with the fluid.     -   Multilayer tubular structure (MLT) containing no plasticizer in         the first 85% of the thickness thereof, starting from the         barrier layer in contact with the fluid.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which at least one layer (3) is present, said layer (3) containing no more than 15% by weight of plasticizer, preferably no more than 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the constituents of the layer (3); advantageously, the layer (3) does not contain plasticizer, said layer (4) predominantly comprising at least one polyamide of aliphatic type or consisting of more than 75% of aliphatic units, said aliphatic polyamide being chosen from:

-   -   a polyamide denoted A, having a mean number of carbon atoms per         nitrogen atom, denoted C_(A), of from 4 to 8.5, advantageously         from 4 to 7;     -   a polyamide denoted B, having a mean number of carbon atoms per         nitrogen atom, denoted C_(B), of from 7 to 10, advantageously         from 7.5 to 9.5;     -   a polyamide denoted C, having a mean number of carbon atoms per         nitrogen atom, denoted CC, of from 9 to 18, advantageously from         10 to 18;

with the proviso that when said layer (3) comprises at least three polyamides, at least one of said polyamides A, B and C is excluded,

said layer (3) being located between the outer layer (2) and the barrier layer (1); or said layer (3) is a layer of binder, the thickness of which represents up to 15% of the structure (MLT).

The layer (3), when it is not a layer of binder, is a polyamide of aliphatic type as defined for the layers (2) and (2′).

Advantageously, the tubular structure of the invention is a three-layer structure consisting, from the outside inwards, of the following layers: (2)//(3)//(1), the layer (2) being plasticized up to 5% as above, and thin, and the layer (3), when it is different from the layer of binder as defined above, does not contain plasticizer.

Nonetheless, this layer (2) plasticized up to 5% by weight must not be too thin, otherwise the barrier layer is not central enough and the MLT structure risks not being good enough in terms of impact. On the other hand, it may be very thin if there is an additional thick (non-plasticized) layer between the layer (2) and the layer (1), such that the layer (1) is not too off-centre.

Another layer (2′) may also be present in this three-layer structure.

Said layer (3) may also be a binder as described, in particular, in patents EP 1452307 and EP1162061, EP 1216826 and EP0428833.

It is implicit that the layers (2) and (1) adhere to one another. The layer of binder is intended to be interposed between two layers which do not adhere, or which adhere with difficulty, to one another.

The binder may be, for example, but without being limited thereto, a composition based on 50% of copolyamide 6/12 (70/30 weight ratio), of Mn 16 000, and on 50% copolyamide 6/12 (30/70 weight ratio), of Mn 16 000, a composition based on PP (polypropylene) grafted with maleic anhydride, known under the name Admer QF551A by Mitsui, a composition based on PA610 (of Mn 30 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 36% of PA6 (of Mn 28 000) and on 1.2% of organic stabilizers (consisting of 0.8% of phenol Lowinox 44B25 from Great Lakes, of 0.2% of phosphite Irgafos 168 from Ciba, of 0.2% of UV stabilizer Tinuvin 312 from Ciba), a composition based on PA612 (of Mn 29 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 36% of PA6 (of Mn 28 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 1.2% of organic stabilizers (consisting of 0.8% of phenol Lowinox 44E325 from Great Lakes, of 0.2% of phosphite Irgafos 168 from Ciba, of 0.2% of UV stabilizer Tinuvin 312 from Ciba), a composition based on PA610 (of Mn 30 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 36% of PA12 (of Mn 35 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 1.2% of organic stabilizers (consisting of 0.8% of phenol Lowinox 44B25 from Great Lakes, of 0.2% of phosphite Irgafos 168 from Ciba, of 0.2% of UV stabilizer Tinuvin 312 from Ciba), a composition based on 40% PA6 (of Mn 28 000, and as defined elsewhere), on 40% of PA12 (of Mn 35 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 20% of functionalized EPR Exxelor VA1801 (Exxon) and on 1.2% of organic stabilizers (consisting of 0.8% of phenol Lowinox 44B25 from Great Lakes, of 0.2% of phosphite Irgafos 168 from Ciba, of 0.2% of UV stabilizer Tinuvin 312 from Ciba) or else a composition based on 40% PA610 (of Mn 30 000, and as defined elsewhere), on 40% of PA6 (of Mn 28 000, and as defined elsewhere) and on 20% of impact modifier of ethylene/ethyl acrylate/anhydride type in the weight ratio 68.5/30/1.5 (MFI 6 at 190° C. under 2.16 kg), and on 1.2% of organic stabilizers (consisting of 0.8% of phenol Lowinox 44825 from Great Lakes, of 0.2% of phosphite Irgafos 168 from Ciba, of 0.2% of UV stabilizer Tinuvin 312 from Ciba).

In an advantageous embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which the barrier layer (1) is a layer made of polyphthalamide (PPA) or fluoropolymer, in particular of ETFE, EFEP or CPT type.

The term PPA means a composition predominantly based on a polyamide comprising a majority of units which comprise at least one aromatic monomer, in particular polyphthalamide of copolyamide 6.T/x type (in which x denotes one or more comonomers) such as Zytel HTNs from Dupont, such as Grivory HTs from Ems, such as Amodels from Solvay, such as Genestars from Kuraray, such as PPA compositions based on coPA6T/6I, coPA6T/66, coPA6T/6, on coPA6T/61/66, on PPA9T, on coPPA9T/x, on PPA10T, or on coPPA10T/x.

In an advantageous embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which the barrier layer (1) is a layer made of polyphthalamide (PPA).

Advantageously, in the multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, the polyamide of the outer layer (2) is a polyamide chosen from B or C as defined above, in particular PA11, PA12, PA610, PA612 or PA1012, the corresponding copolyamides and the mixtures of said polyamides or copolyamides, the polyamides obtained from a lactam being advantageously washed.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined below, in which the PPA or the fluoropolymer of the barrier layer (1) is conductive. Advantageously, in the multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, the polyamide of the layer (3) is a mixture of a polyamide having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom of 10 or more, and a polyamide having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom of 6 or less, for example PA12 and PA6 and an anhydride-functionalized (co)polyolefin.

Advantageously, in the multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, the polyamide of the layer (3) is chosen from the binary mixtures: PA6 and PA12, PA6 and PA612, PA6 and PA610, PA12 and PA612, PA12 and PA610, PA1010 and PA612, PA1010 and PA610, PA1012 and PA612, PA1012 and PA610, and the ternary mixtures: PA6, PA610 and PA12; PA6, PA612 and PA12; PA6, PA614 and PA12.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which at least one of the layers (2), (2′) and (3′) comprises at least one impact modifier and/or at least one additive.

Of course, the impact modifier or the additive is not a plasticizer.

Advantageously, the layers (2) and (2′) comprise at least one impact modifier and/or at least one additive.

Advantageously, the layers (2) and (3) comprise at least one impact modifier and/or at least one additive.

Advantageously, the layers (2), (2′) and (3) comprise at least one impact modifier and/or at least one additive.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which the structure comprises two layers in the following order: (2)//(1), the layer (2) containing no more than 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of each layer, in particular the layer (2) does not contain plasticizer.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which the structure comprises three layers in the following order: (2′)//(2)//(1), the layer (2′) being as defined above, the layer (2) containing no more than 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of each layer, in particular the layer (2) does not contain plasticizer.

According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) as defined above, in which the structure comprises the layers in the following order: (2′)//(2)//(3)//(1) in which the layers (2) and (2′) are as defined above, the layer (3) containing no more than 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of each layer, the layer (3) comprising plasticizer or the layer (3) does not contain plasticizer.

In particular, said layer (2′) of the above four-layer structure is plasticized, said plasticizer being in particular present in a proportion of 1.5% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition of said layer, the thickness of said layer (2′) preferably represents up to 20% of the total thickness of the tubular structure, in particular up to 200 μm, in particular the layer (2′) is the outermost layer and is the only plasticized layer, the layer(s) (2) containing no plasticizer.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a multilayer tubular structure MLT as defined above for the transport of fuels, in particular of petrol.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a multilayer tubular structure MLT as defined above, to comply with an extractables test, said test consisting especially in filling said multilayer tubular structure MLT with alcohol-containing petrol of FAM B type and in heating everything at 60° C. for 96 hours, then in emptying it by filtering it into a beaker, then in leaving the filtrate of the beaker to evaporate at room temperature, to finally weigh this residue, the proportion of which must be less than or equal to 6 g/m2 of tube inner surface area.

All the variants described for the multilayer tubular structure MLT apply here for the use of said multilayer tubular structure MLT for complying with said extractables test.

An extractables value of less than or equal to approximately 6 g/m2 of tube inner surface area indicates that the proportion of extractables is very low and will thus avoid clogging the injectors.

EXAMPLES

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of the following non-limiting examples.

The following structures were prepared by extrusion:

The multilayer tubes are produced by coextrusion. A McNeil multilayer extrusion industrial line is used, equipped with 5 extruders connected to a multilayer extrusion head with spiral mandrels.

The screws used are single extrusion screws having screw profiles adapted to the polyamides. In addition to the 5 extruders and the multilayer extrusion head, the extrusion line comprises:

-   -   a die-punch assembly, located at the end of the coextrusion         head; the inside diameter of the die and the outside diameter of         the punch are chosen as a function of the structure to be made         and of the materials of which it is composed, and also as a         function of dimensions of the pipe and of the line speed;     -   a vacuum tank with an adjustable level of vacuum. In this tank         circulates water maintained in general at 20° C., into which is         immersed a gauge for conforming the tube to its final         dimensions. The diameter of the gauge is adapted to the         dimensions of the tube to be made, typically from 8.5 to 10 mm         for a tube with an outside diameter of 8 mm and a thickness of 1         mm;     -   a succession of cooling tanks in which water is maintained at         about 20° C., for cooling the tube along the path from the         drawing head to the drawing bench;     -   a diameter measurer;     -   a drawing bench.

The configuration with 5 extruders is used to make tubes ranging from 2 layers to 5 layers. In the case of the structures in which the number of layers is less than 5, several extruders are then fed with the same material.

Before the tests, in order to ensure the best properties for the tube and a good extrusion quality, it is verified that the extruded materials have a residual moisture content before extrusion of less than 0.08%. If this is not the case, an additional step of drying the material before the tests is carried out, generally in a vacuum dryer, overnight at 80° C.

The tubes, which satisfy the characteristics described in the present patent application, were taken, after stabilization of the extrusion parameters, the nominal dimensions of the tube no longer changing over time. The diameter is monitored by a laser diameter measurer installed at the end of the line.

Generally, the line speed is typically 20 m/min. It generally varies between 5 and 100 m/min.

The speed of the extruder screws depends on the thickness of the layer and on the diameter of the screw, as is known to those skilled in the art.

In general, the temperature of the extruders and tools (head and joint) should be set so as to be sufficiently higher than the melting point of the compositions under consideration, such that they remain in the molten state, thus preventing them from solidifying and blocking the machine.

The tubular structures were tested on different parameters (Table I).

The amount of extractables was determined and the barrier, and also impact and bursting strength properties were evaluated. Table II indicates the tests used and the classification of the results.

TABLE I Examples and counter-examples Extractables Impact Counter-example 1: >2.1 Good PA12-TL/PPA10T 750/250 μm Counter-example 2: >2.1 Good PA12-TL/EFEPc 750/250 μm Ex. 1: PA12-NoPlast/PPA10T <2 Good 750/250 μm Ex. 2: PA12-NoPlast/EFEPc <2 Good 750/250 μm (1) Bursting strength is the bursting strength after at least 96 h with FAM B biofuel inside; thus, a sufficiently high value to withstand the pressure is sought.

Compositions

PA12-TL: denotes a composition based on polyamide 12, of Mn (number-average molecular weight) 35 000, containing 6% of BBSA (benzyl butyl sulphonamide) plasticizer and 6% of anhydride-functionalized EPR Exxelor VA1801 (Exxon), and on 1.2% of organic stabilizers consisting of 0.8% of phenol (Lowinox 44625 from Great Lakes), of 0.2% of phosphite (Irgafos 168 from Ciba), of 0.2% of UV stabilizer (Tinuvin 312 from Ciba). The melting point of this composition is 175° C.

PA12-NoPlast=PA12-TL without plasticizer (the latter is replaced by the same % of PA12)

PA12: Polyamide 12, of Mn (number-average molecular weight) 35 000.

EPR1: Denotes an EPR functionalized with an anhydride-functional reactive group (at 0.5-1% by weight), MFI 9 (at 230° C., under 10 kg), of Exxelor VA1801 type from Exxon.

Organic stabilizer=1.2% of organic stabilizers consisting of 0.8% of phenol (Lowinox 44B25 from Great Lakes), of 0.2% of phosphite (Irgafos 168 from Ciba), of 0.2% of UV stabilizer (Tinuvin 312 from Ciba).

Plasticizer=BBSA (benzyl butyl sulphonamide).

PPA10T=coPA10.T/6.T, of 60/40 molar ratio, T melting 280° C.+18% EPR1+orga. stab.

PPA10T/6T=coPA10.T/6.T with 40 mol % of 6.T (of MFI 300° C., 5 kg=8, and of T° C. melting 280° C.)+15% of EPR1+orga. stab.)

EFEPc=functionalized and conductive EFEP of Neoflon RP5000AS type, from Daikin

The structures having layers not containing plasticizer, located above the barrier and in contact with the fluid, have excellent results in the extractables test, much better than the counter-examples in which the outer layer is plasticized or those in which a double barrier is present. 

1. A multilayer tubular structure MLT intended for the transport of fuels, in particular of petrol, comprising, from the inside outwards, at least one inner barrier layer comprising PPA, at least one first outer layer located above the inner barrier layer, and one or more other optional layers located above the inner barrier layer; wherein the first outer layer and the other optional layers located above the inner barrier layer comprise from 0 to 5% of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of the first outer layer; or wherein the outer layer and the optional layers comprise 0 to 5% of plasticizer relative to the weight of the first outer layer and the optional layers; wherein the first outer layer comprises at least one aliphatic polyamide of aliphatic type or comprising more than 75% of aliphatic units, wherein the aliphatic polyamide is selected from the group consisting of: a polyamide denoted A, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted C_(A), of between 4 and 8.5; a polyamide denoted B, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted C_(B), of between 7 and 10; a polyamide denoted C, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted C_(C), of between 9 and 18; with the proviso that when the outer layer comprises at least three polyamides, at least one of the polyamides A, B and C is excluded.
 2. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein the first outer layer comprises from 0 to 1.5% of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of the first outer layer.
 3. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein at least one second outer layer located above the inner barrier layer is present, and is located above the first outer layer, wherein the second outer layer comprises plasticizer in a proportion from 1.5% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition of the second outer layer, and wherein the thickness of the second outer layer comprises up to 20% of the total thickness of the multilayer tubular structure.
 4. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 3, wherein the second outer layer is the outermost layer and is the only layer comprising plasticizer.
 5. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein at least one optional layer is present, wherein the optional layer comprises no more than 15% by weight of plasticizer, and wherein the optional layer comprises at least one aliphatic polyamide of aliphatic type or comprising more than 75% of aliphatic units, wherein the aliphatic polyamide is selected from the group consisting of: a polyamide denoted A, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted C_(A), of from 4 to 8.5; a polyamide denoted B, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted C_(B), of from 7 to 10; a polyamide denoted C, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted C_(C), of from 9 to 18; with the proviso that when the optional layer comprises at least three polyamides, at least one of the polyamides A, B and C is excluded; and wherein the optional layer is located between the first outer layer and the inner barrier layer; or wherein the optional layer is comprised of binder and the thickness of the optional layer comprises up to 15% of the multilayer tubular structure (MLT).
 6. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein the polyamide of the first outer layer is an aliphatic polyamide.
 7. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein the polyamide of the first outer layer is a polyamide selected from the group consisting of C, PA11, PA12, PA610, PA612, PA1012, the corresponding copolyamides, and mixtures thereof.
 8. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein the PPA comprising the inner barrier layer is conductive.
 9. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 5, wherein the aliphatic polyamide comprising the optional layer is selected from the group consisting of the binary mixtures: PA6 and PA12, PA6 and PA612, PA6 and PA610, PA12 and PA612, PA12 and PA610, PA1010 and PA612, PA1010 and PA610, PA1012 and PA612, PA1012 and PA610; and the ternary mixtures: PA6, PA610 and PA12; PA6, PA612 and PA12; PA6, PA614 and PA12.
 10. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first outer layer or the optional layer comprises at least one of an impact modifier and at least one other additive.
 11. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer tubular structure comprises two layers in the following order from outside to inside: first outer layer, inner barrier layer; wherein the first outer layer comprises at most 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of each layer.
 12. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 3, wherein the multilayer tubular structure comprises three layers in the following order from outside to inside: second outer layer, first outer layer, inner barrier layer; wherein the second outer layer comprises from 0 to 1.5% of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of the second outer layer, and the first outer layer comprises at most 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of each layer.
 13. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 5, wherein the multilayer tubular structure comprises three layers in the following order from outside to inside: first outer layer, optional layer, inner barrier layer, with the provisio that if the optional layer is a binder layer, the optional layer comprises plasticizer, or if the optional layer is not a binder layer, the optional layer does not comprise plasticizer.
 14. The multilayer tubular structure (MLT) according to claim 5, wherein the multilayer tubular structure comprises four layers in the following order from outside to inside: second outer layer, first outer layer, optional layer, inner barrier layer; wherein the optional layer may comprise plasticizer, or the optional layer may not comprise plasticizer.
 15. A method of using the multilayer tubular structure MLT according to claim 1 for the transport of fuels, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing the multilayer tubular structure and b) filling the structure with fuel, whereby the fuel is transported from one location to another.
 16. A method of determining whether the multilayer tubular structure MLT according to claim 1 complies with an extractables test, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) determining an inner surface area of the MLT; b) filling the multilayer tubular structure MLT with alcohol-containing petrol of FAM B type to obtain a filled MLT; c) heating the filled MLT at 60° C. for 96 hours; d) emptying the MLT by filtering the petrol into a beaker to obtain a filtrate; e) leaving the filtrate to evaporate at room temperature to obtain a residue; f) weighing the residue of the filtrate; whereby complying with the extractables test is defined as: the weight of the residue of the filtrate must be less than or equal to 6 g/m² of the inner surface area of the MLT. 